Pregnancy in Apinal Cord Injured Women: Risks, Prevention and Complications

Authors

  • Ana Catarina Matias Serviço de Medicina Física e de Reabilitação do Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
  • Joana Machado Santos Serviço de Medicina Física e de Reabilitação do Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
  • Maria Emília Cerqueira Assistente Hospitalar Graduada de Medicina Física e de Reabilitação - Serviço de Medicina Física e de Reabilitação do Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25759/spmfr.145

Keywords:

Delivery, Obstetric, Pregnancy Complications, Spinal Cord Injuries

Abstract

There are no predictable hormonal or gynecologic changes that impair pregnancy following a spinal cord injury in women. Female fertility generally remains intact postinjury. When desired, these women should be able to choose motherhood, integrated into the whole rehabilitation program and as a part of social integration.

The main medical problems associated with pregnancy in spinal cord injured women are urinary tract infections, neurogenic bladder and bowel management, anemia, deep venous thrombosis, pressure ulcers, spasticity, hypotension, premature labor and, in some cases, respiratory problems and autonomic dysreflexia.

Labor and delivery present specific changes due to motor and sensory alterations that can be different according to the level and type of injury. There is a considerable risk of autonomic dysreflexia in women with lesions at or above T6, which should be avoided with epidural anesthesia.

Pregnant women with spinal cord injury should attend multidisciplinary antenatal care, in a tertiary hospital, so that complications are promptly recognized and treated. Therefore, the women can have a secure pregnancy that culminates in the birth of healthy children.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

How to Cite

1.
Matias AC, Santos JM, Cerqueira ME. Pregnancy in Apinal Cord Injured Women: Risks, Prevention and Complications. SPMFR [Internet]. 2014 Dec. 18 [cited 2024 Nov. 24];26(2):27-35. Available from: https://spmfrjournal.org/index.php/spmfr/article/view/145

Issue

Vol. 26 No. 2 (2014): Ano 22

Section

Review Article

License

Copyright statement

Authors must also submit a copyright statement (as seen below) on article submission.

To the Editor-in-chief of the SPMFR Journal:

The below signed author(s) hereby state that the article

________________________________________ (ref. MFR_________) is

an original unpublished work and all facts stated are a product of the author(s) investigation. This article does not violate any copyright laws or privacy statements. The author(s) also hereby confirm that there is no conflict of interest's issues in this article.

By submitting this article the author(s) agree that after publication all copyrights belong to the SPMFR Journal.

Signed by all authors

Date:

Names (capital letters):

Signatures:

The SPMFR Journal’s contents are follow a Creative Commons licence. After publication the authors can hand out the articles as long as the SPMFR Journal is credited.